This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
On July 4, 2020, China's national security law came into effect, marking a significant shift in Hong Kong's relationship with Beijing and the outside world.
The law has sent fear coursing through the city, which was once known for its open and free speech.
Independent Judiciary Under Threat ¶
Hong Kong's independent judiciary, which has been a key pillar of the city's success, is now under threat.
The law grants China jurisdiction in some national security cases and allows mainland security agents to set up shop openly in the city for the first time.
These personnel are not bound by local laws, and local police have been granted broad surveillance powers that do not require judicial oversight.
Central Government Control Tightened ¶
The national security law was written in Beijing and imposed on Hong Kong, establishing supremacy over the Basic Law, the mini-constitution that grants the city certain freedoms.
The law states that if there is a discrepancy between the two systems, China's law takes precedence.
It also embeds mainland officials within Hong Kong's government, including a new national security commission headed by the head of Beijing's Liaison Office.
Freedom of Speech Under Attack ¶
Beijing and Hong Kong's government said the new powers would only target a "very small minority," but it has quickly become clear that certain political views, even if expressed peacefully, are now illegal.
The first arrests under the new law came on Wednesday, with most of those arrested in possession of flags or leaflets promoting independence.
On Thursday, the government confirmed that one of the city's most popular protest chants, "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times," was now banned.
Protest Walls Scrubbed ¶
The impact of the law on people's speech has been visible both digitally and physically.
Some restaurants and businesses have removed political displays after warnings from police, while officials were filmed scraping certain words and phrases from a protest wall at a university campus.
Across town, posters and phrases are being removed from "Lennon Walls" that first sprung up during last year's pro-democracy protests.
Politicians Flee, Shut Down Parties ¶
For years, Hong Kong was a place to which people fled when they feared persecution on the authoritarian mainland.
Now, it is a place people flee from.
Prominent democracy activist Nathan Law announced on Thursday evening that he had gone overseas to an undisclosed location because of the law.
